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Where every news counts.Sun, 25 Feb 2018 07:57:13 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.5A Few World Class “Chasemasters” In Crickethttp://newzfeaturez.com/a-few-world-class-chasemasters-in-cricket/
http://newzfeaturez.com/a-few-world-class-chasemasters-in-cricket/#respondSun, 25 Feb 2018 07:55:37 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7769The just concluded India versus South Africa Momentum 6 match One Day Series has proven that India in terms of performance were just too good for the “Proteas”. What this series filled with “intensity” has also illustrated is that the Indian captain Virat Kohli has genuinely become a world class “chasemaster”. The fact that he […]

]]>The just concluded India versus South Africa Momentum 6 match One Day Series has proven that India in terms of performance were just too good for the “Proteas”. What this series filled with “intensity” has also illustrated is that the Indian captain Virat Kohli has genuinely become a world class “chasemaster”. The fact that he scored a total of 558 runs in this six match series (most by any player in a bilateral series) of which scores of 112, 46 not out, and 129 not out came while chasing a target only statistically confirms that “King Kohli” truly has become the master of run chases. Now, apart from Virat there have been a few batsmen over the years who have proven to be world class masters of the chases in the one day form of cricket. So, here is presenting a list of few top class “Chasemasters” that have graced the action packed version of the “Gentleman’s game” better known as “One Day International Cricket”.

a. Michael Bevan- Australia:

The original “chasemaster” Michael Bevan (Source: Ary Sports)

“53.58” was the average that Michael Bevan, a left-handed Australian middle-order batsman managed to garner at the end of his career. Renowned for being an excellent finisher mainly in the One Day International format, this batsman over the years has “risen like a phoenix” to the help the Australian cricket team snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The best example of Bevan’s incredible ability to perform in a pressurized chase, was during a 2003 world cup match against Engalnd played in Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Set a paltry score of 205 for victory the mighty Aussies were reeling at 135/8 before Bevan played a masterly unbeaten innings of 74 off 126 balls along with Andy Bichel who scored 34 off 36 balls to take the team to a miraculous victory. So, having rescued Australia during stiff run chases for a decade or so, it would be apt to state that Bevan belongs to an elite group of “chasemasters” that shall forever be immortalized in the cricketing world.

b. Javed Miandad- Pakistan:

The great Pakistani “chasemaster” Javed Miandad (Source: Zee News)

“A typical street fighter of a player” would be the ideal way to describe the Pakistani legend and right-handed batsman Javed Miandad. Gifted with supreme batting skills, Miandad was not only know for his “boundary and six hitting” but also for his aggressive running. In addition, during many a stiff chase this batsman born in Karachi while under severe pressure managed to take his team over the line. Furthermore, he also gained a reputation for being one among a few Pakistani players who consistently performed during a chase while playing arch rivals India. One of his memorable innings while chasing being the last ball six he hit of Indian medium fast bowler Chetan Sharma in a One Day tournament in Sharjah in the year 1986. Considered to one of Pakistan’s greatest batsman, Miandad for his unique ability to chase down a score successfully shall also be remembered as one among a few truly great “chasemasters” that the cricketing world has ever seen.

c. Michael Hussey- Australia:

“Mr Cricket” is the sobriquet given to Australian middle order batsman Michael Hussey for his dedication towards the game. Having first made his debut in One Day Internationals in 2004 against India, he over the years gained the reputation of being a great finisher and proved to be a worthy replacement for Michael Bevan. It was his quick running and well calculated risk taking that has helped Australia get across the line from some extremely sticky situations. A memorable innings of Huss (nickname) coming in 2010 T20 semifinal against Pakistan played in the Caribbean Islands where he scored 60 off just 24 balls to take the Aussies into the finals. This innings included Michael smashing 22 runs in just four balls of the bowling of off-spinner Saaed Ajmal. So, with “Mr Cricket” having finished his career with a One Day international average of 48.15, the fact that he scored many runs during a chase when his team needed him the most, has ensured that he does belong to an elite group of batsmen who can genuinely be called “chasemasters”.

d. MS Dhoni- India:

“Cool as cucumber” is the best way to describe former India captain and wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni. It is this extremely “calm” exterior that he possesses which has allowed him to transform from a “destructive” to a “constructive” batsman. Furthermore, a balanced temperament has also enabled him to guide India to victory especially during a stiff chase under conditions of maximum pressure. For example, it was during 2011 World Cup Final held at the Wankhede Standium, that Dhoni scored his first half century of the tournament. 91 not out of 79 balls, and helped team India chase a stiff target of 274 runs. And so, it is his remarkable ability to handle “pressure cooker” situations, that makes MS one of the great ” chasemasters” ever to have graced the game that is supposed to have been created for “Gentlemen”.

e. AB Devilliers- South Africa:

The “chasemaster” of the Proteas AB Devilliers (Source: Wikipedia Commons)

“The 360 degree player” is how the South African right-handed batsman and cricketing legend AB Devilliers is commonly referred to by many cricketing experts. Renowned for possessing an exotic range of strokes, Devilliers holds the record for the “world’s fastest One Day International 50, 100, and 150. Now, over the years this master South African batsman has played some crucial knocks when under pressure while chasing. For example, during a tri-nation series played in Zimbabwe in 2015, while chasing a stiff target of 328 set by Australia, De Villiers led South Africa to eventual victory with a classy 136. Having performed very consistently over the years while chasing with a magnificent average of 81.48 De Villiers has certainly proven that when it comes to “chasemasters” he is right “up there with the best”.

With modern cricket players developing quickly in terms of fitness and and skills one can be assured that in the future we are definitely going to witness the development of a lot more “chasemasters” within the cricketing world.

]]>After having just watched Padmaavat, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed opulent Bollywood movie, it became quite obvious to me that the supporting actor Ranveer Singh has outperformed lead actor Shahid Kapoor by a big margin. Now, there are a number of reasons why Singh as “Alauddin Khilji” has totally overshadowed Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh, one of them being the way the roles have been written. However, this phenomenon of the supporting actor overpowering the lead in Bollywood is not a new one, and has occurred many times before. So, here is presenting a list of a few Supporting Actors in Bollywood who have quite clearly surpassed the protagonists in terms of performance.

a. Manoj Bajpai- As Bhiku Mhatre In Satya

Manoj Bajpai as Bhiku Mhatre in Satya who completely overpowered the protagonist played by JD Chakravarthy (Source: Times Now)

“Mumbai Ka King Kaun? Bhiku Mhatre” screams Manoj Bajpai playing the intriguing supporting character Bhiku Mhatre in the 1998 Bollywood cult classic Satya directed by Ram Gopal Varma while standing on top of a hill. Brilliantly conceived by writers Anurag Kashyap and Saurabh Shukla, this character totally “overshadowed” the performance of the protagonist Satya played by JD Chakravarthy, after whom this movie has been titled. Apart from the character being extremely well written and defined, it is brought to life by the magnificent performance of actor Manoj Bajpai. Wearing colourful clothes and bringing a mixture of “exuberance” and a great deal of “naturalism” to his role Bajpai performs brilliantly and deservedly won the “National Award For Best Supporting Actor”. Over the years the magnificent performance of Bajpai having acquired cult status has proven that, Supporting Actors in Bollywood at times can overshadow the protagonist provided the script is strong and the actor is able to “raise the bar” with regards to performance.

b. Annu Kapoor- As Dr Baldev Chaddha In Vicky Donor

“A quirky fertility expert” is the best way to describe the supporting character named Dr Baldev Chaddha in the 2012 Bollywood Movie Vicky Donor directed by Shoojit Sarkar. This character was performed so brilliantly by the talented Annu Kapoor that he won the prestigious “National Award” under the Best Supporting Actor category. Fusing elements of “eccentricity” and “charm” Kapoor brings to life an extremely “lovable” character. Furthermore, this magnificent performance by Kapoor also shows that behind all the “goofiness” exhibited by this character there lies a “deeply caring sensitive human being”. Above all, Kapoor by splendidly playing the role of Dr. Chaddha has ensured that he belongs to a rare breed of Supporting Actors in Bollywood who have managed to upstage the protagonist.

c. Paresh Rawal- As Baburao Apte In Hera Pheri

Paresh Rawal as Baburao Apte in Hera Peri (Source: Rediff.com)

“Dil Dariya hai baki sab samundar, yeh meri samasya hai” is a witty dialogue mouthed by one of Bollywood’s most hilarious supporting characters called Baburao Apte who featured in the movie Hera Pheri directed by Priyadarshan. Played by the ultra talented Paresh Rawal, this character has been performed with a great deal of “goofiness” by this brilliant stage and movie actor. Supporting the magnificent acting by Rawal, are some wonderful dialogues written by Neeraj Vora. Above all, it is the use of brilliant body language that includes quirky mannerism to play this funny character called “Baburao” that makes Rawal one among a few Supporting Actors in Bollywood to have outperformed a pair of protagonists in the form of Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty.

d. Nawazuddin Siddiqui- As Chand Nawab in Bajrangi Bhaijaan:

Inspired from a real life Pakistani reporter, is the fascinating supporting character named “Chand Nawab” from the 2015 Bollywood movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan starring megastar Salman Khan. So brilliant was the performance by the talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui, that soon after its release this character was in fact talked about more than the protagonist played by a major Bollywood star like Khan. Using the innocence and the earnestness of the original broadcast journalist from Pakistan (as seen in a popular video on YouTube that inspired director Kabir Khan to write this character) Nawaz is in top form. Having garnered a lot of accolades when this movie released for this sweet supporting role Nawazuddin has joined an elite list of Supporting Actors in Bollywood who by their performance have ensured that the protagonist has had to share the limelight, which is indeed a rare feat especially in Bollywood.

e. Anil Kapoor- As Vikrant Kapoor in Taal

Anil Kapoor as Vikrant in the movie Taal, who overshadowed the entire star cast including the lead actors (Source: Rediff.com)

“An eccentric businessman” is the ideal way to describe Vikrant the supporting character that Anil Kapoor played in the 1999 Bollywood movie Taal. Played with a lot of flamboyance and quirkiness, this character along with the accompanying brilliant music of AR Rahman proved to be the “lifeline” of an otherwise average movie. Bringing a lot of energy to the role, Kapoor brilliantly portrays the “eccentricity” of a pragmatic businessman who for the first time falls in love. The fact that when this movie released “Kapoor as Vikrant” completely overshadowed the protagonists played by Aishwarya Rai and Akshaye Khanna only proves the true class of this performance by a talented actor. Above all, this memorable performance of Kapoor in the movie Taal, can certainly be included in the list of Supporting Actors in Bollywood who have completely overshadowed the lead actors.

f. Abhisheik Bachchan- As Lallan Singh in Yuva

Abhisheik Bachchan as Lallan Singh in Yuva, a performance that allowed him to grab all the limelight away from the his co-actors (Source: Koimoi)

“A rowdy ruffian” is how the character named Lallan Singh in the Mani Ratnam Bollywood movie Yuva can best be defined as Comprising of a great deal of “intensity”, this brilliant performance by Abhisheik resulted in the actor garnering accolades throughout the country. This performance also gave the actor (who gave a number of flops to begin with) a new lease of life at a point in his career when he desperately needed it. The fact that this actor (son of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan) easily overshadowed his costars Ajay Devgn and Vivek Oberoi via his “raw performance” is testimony to the power of the character. And so, with this brilliant performance of Abhisheik having not only helped the movie do reasonably well at the box office but also garner praise. The actor certainly shall go down in the history of Hindi Cinema as one among a few Supporting Actors in Bollywood who outshone the protagonist that too quite easily.

g. Rajkummar Rao- As Pritam Vidorhi in Bareilly ki Barfi

Rajkummar Rao in Bareilly Ki Barfi, a performance which overpowered the lead protagonists of the movie (Source: BizAsia)

“An intriguing simpleton possessing a split personality” would be the best way to describe the character Pritam Vidrohi from the 2017 Bollywood movie Bareilly Ki Barfi directed by Ashwini Iyer Tiwari. Performed with a great deal of realistic flair,by actor Rajkummar Rao, this character essentially is that of an underdog. Using perfect body language to exhibit “meekness” as well “toughness” through his performance, Rao truly shows us what “getting into the skin of the character” really means. The fact that the actor chose to enact this character which is essentially a supporting part only shows that he is not only talented but a “risk taker” as well, and so deserves all the accolades he has garnered for this performance More importantly however, this brilliant performance by the actor as “Vidrohi” has ensured that he shall forever be remembered as one artist belonging to a rare group of Supporting Actors who have completely overshadowed the lead protagonists.

h. Mahesh Manjrekar- As Raj Yadav “Baali”

Mahesh Manjrekar as Balli in Kaante, a performance that overshadowed his costars contribution (Source: filmsmella.com)

“A crazy over the top supporting character” is what Mahesh Manjrekar played to perfection in the 2002 Sanjay Gupta directed Kaante, a Bollywood movie inspired from the Hollywood classic Resevoir Dogs. Such was the impact of his performance in the movie that he completely overshadowed stalwarts such as Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt who basically were the protagonists. Using stammer to good effect, Manjrekar brought to life a “crazy” criminal who joins a “band of men” to rob a bank in Los Angeles. Aiding the brilliant performance of the actor are some superb dialogues by Milap Zaveri. Above all, Manjrekar through his magnificent performance clearly stole the show from the protagonists which was proven when the movie released, thereby writing his name in the elite list of Supporting Actors in Bollywood who have easily managed to overpower the lead actor.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/when-bollywood-supporting-actors-surpassed-the-lead/feed/0Aiyaary- A Bollywood Political Thrillerhttp://newzfeaturez.com/aiyaary-a-bollywood-political-thriller/
http://newzfeaturez.com/aiyaary-a-bollywood-political-thriller/#commentsMon, 12 Feb 2018 17:57:33 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7739“Aiyaary means, the ultimate trickery” explained Bollywood director Neeraj Pandey while speaking to the Deccan Chronicle about his latest feature film titled Aiyaary. All set to be released throughout the country on Friday February 2017, this movie comprises of a talented ensemble cast that includes actors such as Manoj Bajpai, Siddharth Malhotra, Adil Hussain, Kumud […]

]]>“Aiyaary means, the ultimate trickery” explained Bollywood director Neeraj Pandey while speaking to the Deccan Chronicle about his latest feature film titled Aiyaary. All set to be released throughout the country on Friday February 2017, this movie comprises of a talented ensemble cast that includes actors such as Manoj Bajpai, Siddharth Malhotra, Adil Hussain, Kumud Mishra, Nasseruddin Shah, and Anupam Kher. With the release having already been postponed once, this movie filled with “political intrigue” is finally all set to burn the silver screen with its intensity.

Manoj Bajpai and Siddharth Malhotra in a scene from Aiyaary (Source: DNA)

The plot of Aiyaary is based within the Indian army and revolves around Colonel Abhay Singh (Manoj Bajpai) who has been assigned the unpleasant task to capture his former protege Major Jai Bakshi (Siddharth Malhotra), who has apparently become a renegade. Furthermore, this movie was officially first announced in 2017 during the month of April. In addition, it has been shot in varied locations such as Delhi, London, Kashmir, and Cairo. The music of this movie has been composed by Rochak Kohli and Ankit Tiwari, lyrics written by Manoj Muntashir, and the background score given by Sanjoy Chowdhury . The soundtrack consists of three songs titled “Lae Dooba”, “Yaad Hai” and “Shuru Hai” and is about 13 minutes and 12 seconds in duration.

The Poster of Aiyaari directed by Neeraj Pandey (Source: The Indian Express)

So, with this movie based on the infamous “Adarsh Society Scam” on the verge of being released throughout the country, here is hoping that this Neeraj Pandey movie once again manages to strike gold at the box office as well as garner critical acclaim.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/aiyaary-a-bollywood-political-thriller/feed/1Pad Man- A Bollywood Movie About Menstrual Hygienehttp://newzfeaturez.com/pad-man-a-bollywood-movie-about-menstrual-hygiene/
http://newzfeaturez.com/pad-man-a-bollywood-movie-about-menstrual-hygiene/#respondMon, 05 Feb 2018 13:17:53 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7727“Superhero Hai Yeh Pagla” is the tagline of the to be released Bollywood Movie “Pad Man” directed by R Balki starring Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, and Sonam Kapoor. Based on the life of a Tamil Nadu social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, this film is all set to be released on Friday 9th February 2018. It was […]

]]>“Superhero Hai Yeh Pagla” is the tagline of the to be released Bollywood Movie “Pad Man” directed by R Balki starring Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte, and Sonam Kapoor. Based on the life of a Tamil Nadu social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, this film is all set to be released on Friday 9th February 2018. It was initially intended to be released on 25th January 2018, however it was switched over in order to accommodate the “controversial” Sanjay Leela Bhansali film “Padmaavat”.

The plot for this movie aptly titled “Pad Man” has been inspired from Twinkle Khanna’s (the wife of Akshay) book titled “The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad”. It basically tells a story of Lakshmikant Chauhan (Akshay Kumar) who helps produce low cast sanitary napkins for women in the rural areas. The supporting cast includes the talented Radhika Apte, and the”stylish” Sonam Kapoor along with Amitabh Bachchan making a cameo appearance. Furthermore, this film essentially highlights the ignorance level with regards to “menstrual hygiene” in women that unfortunately exists in India even today. The music of this movie has been composed by the talented Amit Trivedi and the lyrics written by Kausar Munir. The soundtrack consists of “5” songs of which the title song has been sung by Mika Singh. In addition, the music was officially released by the “Zee Music Company” on 26th December 2017.

Akshay Kumar with Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor in Pad Man (Source: The Indian Express)

With “Pad Man” on the verge of release, here is hoping that this movie does help usher in a little sensitivity within the Indian society with regards to the delicate issue of “menstrual hygiene” in women.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/pad-man-a-bollywood-movie-about-menstrual-hygiene/feed/09 Bollywood Romantic Movies Worth Watchinghttp://newzfeaturez.com/9-bollywood-romantic-movies-worth-watching/
http://newzfeaturez.com/9-bollywood-romantic-movies-worth-watching/#respondSat, 03 Feb 2018 13:23:05 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7696The Hindi Film Industry popularly known as “Bollywood” is known for churning out roughly about 1000 movies annually.These movies produced usually belong to variety of genres such as action, biopic, romance, tragedy, family drama, comedy, horror so on and so forth. Now, over the years “Romance” has been one genre that has definitely caught the […]

]]>The Hindi Film Industry popularly known as “Bollywood” is known for churning out roughly about 1000 movies annually.These movies produced usually belong to variety of genres such as action, biopic, romance, tragedy, family drama, comedy, horror so on and so forth. Now, over the years “Romance” has been one genre that has definitely caught the fancy of the Indian audience. It is due to public demand that for decades now a majority of the directors in “Bollywood” have continued to make mushy “romantic” movies. However, there have only been a few movies based on “love” produced in the last two decades or so that can really stand the test of time when watched even today. So, here is presenting a list of “9 Bollywood Romantic Movies” that I truly believe are worth watching.

a. Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge- Aditya Chopra:

Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan as Simran and Raj in a scene from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (Source: Awara Diaries)

“Quintessential Bollywood romance” would be the best way to describe the 1995 Aditya Chopra directed Bollywood Romantic Movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Produced by Yash Chopra (father of Aditya) who is renowned for having produced and directed some successful romantic films himself, this movie had all the elements which includes melodrama, comedy, a bit of action, and of course lots of romance that the Hindi speaking audiences in India love. Based on a love story between a rich, charming, and flirtatious Indian boy Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and a typical simple middle class Indian girl Simran (Kajol), this movie is a total delight from start to end. Backed up by brilliant music composed by Jatin-Lalit and fantastic performances especially by the lead pair Shah Rukh and Kajol, this film has over the years become a “Bollywood” cult classic to remember.

b. Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak- Mansoor Khan

Juhi Chawla and Aamir Khan as Reshmi and Raj in a scene from Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (Source: DNA India)

“Doom till Doom” is the literal English translation of the 1988 Mansoor Khan directed Bollywood Romantic Movie titled Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Produced under Nasir Hussain Films, this “Indian version of Romeo and Juliet” proved to be blockbuster at the box office, and was also the debut film of Aamir Khan, the nephew of producer Hussain. The plot of this movie basically revolves around a love story between a boy Raj (Aamir Khan) and a girl Rashmi (Juhi Chawla) both belonging to families that have been at war with each other for decades. Comprising of some fine music composed by Anand-Milind including the smash hit “Papa Kehte Hain”, this movie is a complete family entertainer consisting of elements such as melodrama, romance, catchy music, and tragedy l. And so, with this movie having won critical acclaim (in the form of a national award) as well as box office success, it can be confidently stated that this is one of the most memorable romantic films to have been produced in Bollywood.

c. Saathiya- Shaad Ali

Suhani and Aditya played by Rani Mukherjee and Vivek Oberoi in a scene from Saathiya (Source: IMDb)

“The responsibility of being in love” is the theme on which the 2002 Shaad Ali directed Bollywood Romantic Movie Saathiya (an official remake of the Mani Ratnam directed Tamil movie Alaipayuthey) revolves around. Based on a couple Aditya (Vivek Oberoi) and Suhani (Rani Mukherjee) who fall in love and decide to elope because both their families refuse to accept the relationship, this movie basically explores life before and after marriage, an aspect of love rarely explored in Bollywood. Comprising of some soulful music by AR Rahman and some wonderful performances by the cast especially by the lead protagonists this movie not only “entertains” but also emphasizes the fact that “love does come with responsibility attached to it”. More importantly though, Saathiya is a movie that showcases the mechanics of a man and woman relationship in a realistic rather than fantastical manner (a rare feat in Bollywood), making this movie worth watching even today i.e. 16 years after its release.

d. Rangeela- Ram Gopal Varma

Urmila Matondkar as Mili and Aamir Khan as Munna in a scene from Rangeela (Source: Free Press Journal)

“To say or not to say” is a phrase that quite beautifully encapsulates the essence of the 1995 Ram Gopal Varma directed Bollywood Romantic Movie titled Rangeela. It is based on a street smart lovable man called Munna (Aamir Khan) who falls in love with a simple girl next door Milli (Urmila Matondkar). Adding twist to the simple tale of love is the character called Raj Kamal who is in love with Mili, and is played by the ever stylish Jackie Shroff. In addition, it also comprises of some fantastic music (the lifeline of this film) composed by AR Rahman, with songs like “Tanha Tanha” and “Kya Kare Ya Na Kare” being loved by people all around the country. Above all though, the director via the use of music and dance has shown that the timeless emotion of “Love” can overpower rigid societal barriers such as class distinction, and this is what makes the movie not only interesting but extremely “colourful” to watch too.

e. Lootera- Vikramaditya Motwane

Sonakshi Sinha and Ranveer Singh as Pakhi and Varun Shrivastav in a scene from the movie Lootera (Source: The Indian Express)

“A love saga possessing an old world charm” would be the best way to describe the 2013 Bollywood Romantic Movie Lootera directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. Produced by Phantom Films, this critically acclaimed film was inspired by a short story titled “The Last Leaf” written by O Henry. Revolving around a sensitive love story between a con man Varun Shrivastav/Atmanand Tripathi (Ranveer Singh) and a daughter of a landlord (i.e. Zamindar) Pakhi Roy Chaudhary (Sonakshi Sinha), this movie beautifully captures the importance of “sacrifice” in love. Furthermore, it is also backed up by some “soulful” music composed by the talented Amit Trivedi, as well by brilliant performances by the cast especially Singh as the main lead and Vikrant Massey as his “sidekick” Devdas. Overall, it would be apt to state that this is one of those rare Bollywood romance that actually shows us what it means to fall in love and then happily make a “sacrifice” for it.

f. Mukkabaaz- Anurag Kashyap

Zoya Hussain as Sunaina Mishra and Vineet Kumar Singh as Shravan Singh in a scene from Mukkabaaz (Source: The Hindu)

“A tale of love set in the world of sports” is the ideal way to describe the 2018 Bollywood Romantic Movie Mukkabaaz directed by a maverick called Anurag Kashyap. Based in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, this film deals with a love story between a boxer belonging to a “lower caste” Shravan Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh), and a “mute” girl belonging to an “upper caste” family named Sunaina Mishra (Zoya Hussain). Comprising of some fine performance by the entire star cast, Kashyap brilliantly fuses a typical Bollywood template of romance with real issues such as sports politics in India and casteism to produce an “engaging” and “entertaining” film. Another unique feature of this movie is the fantastic music composed by Nucleya and Rachita Arora, who combine elements of folk and rap quite brilliantly to create an outstanding soundtrack. Above all, it is the great vision and direction provided by Kashyap that has eventually helped this film aptly titled “Mukkabaaz” to “pack a punch” especially in terms of the critical acclaim.

g. Dev D- Anurag Kashyap

Mahie Gill as Paro and Abhay Deol as Dev in a scene from Dev D (Source: Livemint)

“Devdas with a twist” would be the best way to describe the 2009 Anurag Kashyap directed Bollywood Romantic Movie Dev D. Based on the Bengali novel “Devdas” written by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, this movie revolves around a love triangle involving Devindra Dhillon aka Dev (Abhay Deol), Parminder aka Paro (Mahie Gill), and Leni aka Chanda (Kalki Koechlin). Oscillating between Punjab and Delhi, this movie basically is a “dark love saga” which shows how even despite a severe “heartbreak” an individual can still find “redemption”. In addition, the brilliant story, direction, and great performances by the star cast is well supported by “path breaking” music composed by Amit Trivedi, who won a National Award in the music category for his work in this movie. More importantly this film proves that “Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining”, and so one must never give up hope in life.

h. Naach- Ram Gopal Varma

Antara Mali as Reva and Abhishek Bachchan as Abhinav in a scene from Naach (Source: Sulekha Movies)

“Love sandwiched in between ego’s” is the concept upon which the 2004 Ram Gopal Varma directed Bollywood Romantic Movie Naach has been conceived. Based on a love story involving a “realist” Abhinav (Abhishek Bachchan) and an “idealist” Reva (Antara Mali), this movie basically shows us how the principles of “realism” and “idealism” can interfere with love. Comprising of a few peppy songs by music director Amar Mohile and decent performances by lead protagonists Abhishek and Antara, this film is essentially a mature take on love. Although, not one of Varma’s best work, Naach is still an interesting romantic movie which illustrates that true love can truly overcome all odds including “human ego”.

i. Raincoat- Rituparno Ghosh

Aishwarya Rai as Neeru and Ajay Devgn as Manu in a scene from the movie Raincoat (Source: inannareturns.com)

“A melancholic love story about two lovers separated by cruel twist of faith” is what the 2004 Bollywood Romantic Movie Raincoat directed by Rituparno Ghosh is all about. Revolving around a rendezvous between two former lovers Manu (Ajay Devgn) and Neerja (Aishwarya Rai) on a rainy afternoon in Kolkata, this movie shows us the value of “sacrifice” in love. Based on a short story written by O Henry titled “The Gift of Magi”, this film through the brilliant use of classical music and poetry capture the essence of “unfulfilled” love very sensitively. Studded by brilliant performances especially by Aishwarya Rai and Annu Kapoor, Raincoat above all is film that tells us no matter what the circumstances true “love” shared between two human beings never ever fades away.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/9-bollywood-romantic-movies-worth-watching/feed/0Columbo, Why Is It A Great Detective TV Series?http://newzfeaturez.com/columbo-why-is-it-a-great-american-detective-tv-series/
http://newzfeaturez.com/columbo-why-is-it-a-great-american-detective-tv-series/#respondMon, 29 Jan 2018 15:57:08 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7677“Just one more thing” is a famous dialogue mouthed by one of America’s most popular television characters known as Columbo. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, this murder mystery based TV series revolves around the adventures of an Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo played brilliantly by actor Peter Falk. This intriguing television serial […]

]]>“Just one more thing” is a famous dialogue mouthed by one of America’s most popular television characters known as Columbo. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link, this murder mystery based TV series revolves around the adventures of an Los Angeles homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo played brilliantly by actor Peter Falk. This intriguing television serial is extremely “unique” because it follows a story format that is not used usually by the “whodunit” detective series such as Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes. And so, here is presenting a combination of factors that make “Columbo” a great American detective series to remember.

The talented Peter Falk in and as Columbo, A popular American TV detective series (Source: Decades)

a. The Use of a “Inverted Detective Story Format”by the creators of Columbo:

William Shatner, the main antagonist of an episode titled “Fade in to Murder” (Source: Radioactive Studios)

“Howcatchem” is an alternative term that aptly describe the “intriguing” inverted detective story format used in creating episodes for this television series titled “Columbo”. The style of story writing used in this iconic American detective series, basically reveals the identity of the criminal at the very beginning of every episode. Furthermore, this narrative style also allows the viewer to observe in detail the manner in which the detective (Columbo in this series) solves the crime thereby making it an engaging watch. In addition, this story format used for this TV series also helps the audience understand in depth the reason “why” the crime was committed. In other words, the storytelling used in this detective serial is the total “antithesis” to the more commonly used “whodunit” writing style, thus making it and extremely “interesting” watch for the audience.

b. The “Intriguing Themes” used by a variety writers of Columbo:

Leonard Nimoy, as the antagonist in the episode titled “A Stitch In Crime” (Source: Den of Geek)

A large variety of themes ranging from crime within a political set up, medical fraternity, to the field of sports and entertainment has been used in Columbo by a variety of writers. So, as a result of an assortment of themes being used this detective series comprises of several interesting “antagonists” who use a variety of methods to kill, which makes it extremely interesting for the viewer. Among the many themes used the most “intriguing” being the use of “subliminal cuts” used in advertising world in the episode titled “Double Exposure”. A few other examples include a murder on a cruise ship in a episode titled “Trouble Waters”, an episode known as “Friend in deed” in which an accidental murder is used to cover up an intentional one.

c. The “Brilliant Execution” and “Music Composition” by directors and composers of Columbo episodes:

Jack Casidy and Peter Falk in a scene from the episode “Murder By The Book” (Source: Dailymotion)

Enhancing the excellent writing of Columbo episodes is the fine direction by a number of directors including an episode directed by the great Steven Spielberg. The direction provided by most of the directors are “high quality” and manages to capture the essence of the “inverted detective story format” quite beautifully. Of note, is the season 1 episode “Murder By the Book” directed by Steven Spielberg who makes brilliant use of great camerawork to tell a gripping story revolving around the death of successful novelist. Other well directed episodes include “A Friend in Deed” by Ben Gazzara and “Murder Under The Glass” directed by Oscar award winner director Jonathan Demme. In addition, Falk himself has also directed an episode titled “Blueprint For Murder”.

Supporting the brilliant writing and directing of most episodes, is an appropriate haunting background score that adds to the “intrigue” factor, a key element in any detective series. The excellent use of a musical score especially during turning points in the plot, is what makes watching this TV series highly enjoyable, and credit for this must given to all the multiple composers that were used.

d. The “Magnificent” performance of Peter Falk as Columbo:

“Unforgettable” is a word that best describes the performance of actor Peter Falk as the eccentric homicide detective Lieutenant Columbo. Using an extremely “naturalistic” style of acting, Falk, brings to the life the idiosyncrasies of Lieutenant Columbo with a great deal of “realism” and “ease”. The manner in which he makes use of his body language to reveal his emotion while interrogating the perpetrator is also quite a delight to watch. Adding great depth to his character and performance are props such his crumpled jacket (apparently owned by Falk), a cigar, and a car i.e. the 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet model. Apparently, it is said that this talented actor many a times while shooting on set improvised and added nuances so as to help his fellow actors to react accordingly, and thereby provoke a more real performance from them. Overall, this performance by Falk can truly be considered to be “one of greatest” not only in the American TV industry but also, with regards to the television industry the world over. And so, it is not surprising that he won an Emmy Award in 1975-76 and 1989-90 in the “Outstanding Lead Actor in the Drama Series” category.

With the “curtain being brought down” on this wonderful detective series way back in 2003, it would fair to say that this American detective TV series shall go down in the history “world television” as “one of the greatest” ever to have been broadcast on the small screen.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/columbo-why-is-it-a-great-american-detective-tv-series/feed/0Padmaavat- A Tale Of Love and Lusthttp://newzfeaturez.com/padmaavat-a-tale-of-love-and-lust/
http://newzfeaturez.com/padmaavat-a-tale-of-love-and-lust/#respondMon, 22 Jan 2018 15:50:45 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7679After having faced lots of controversies in the past few months, the Bollywood movie Padmaavat (earlier titled Padmavati) directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is all set to be released throughout the country on Thursday 25th January 2018. Supposedly based on a fictional poem titled “Padmavat” written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, this movie stars Deepika Padukone, […]

]]>After having faced lots of controversies in the past few months, the Bollywood movie Padmaavat (earlier titled Padmavati) directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is all set to be released throughout the country on Thursday 25th January 2018. Supposedly based on a fictional poem titled “Padmavat” written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, this movie stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh in the leads.

The beautiful Deepika Padukone in a scene from the movie Padmaavat (Source: The Indian Express)

The plot of this movie is based on the folklore surrounding a beautiful Rajput Queen Padmavati (Deepika Padukone) who was married to the King of “Mewar” Maharawal Ratan Sen (Shahid Kapoor). Complications arise in the blissful married life of the Rajput royal couple, when a Turko-Afghan ruler named Alauddin Khaliji (Ranveer Singh) infatuated by the beauty of Padmavati attacks the Kingdom of Mewar. Comprising of opulent sets and costume designs (a trademark of Bhansali’s movie making) this movie is all set to explode on to the silver screen in a few days. The background score is composed by Sanchit Balhara while, the music has been composed by Bhansali himself. Furthermore, the soundtrack consists of six songs of which “Ghoomar” sung by Shreya Ghosal and Swaroop Khan has become quite popular with people around the country. In addition, the entire Padmaavat music album was officially released on 21st January 2018.

Shahid Kapoor and Deepika Padukone in a scene from Padmaavat (Source: www.patrika.com)

This movie numerologically renamed “Padmaavat” having survived a rough few months, is now finally on the verge of release, and so here is hoping that this opulent Bhansali production hits the “jackpot” at the box office, a feat which his previous magnum opus “Bajirao Mastani” managed to achieve in 2015.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/padmaavat-a-tale-of-love-and-lust/feed/0Why is “Mukkabaaz” such a brilliant Bollywood movie?http://newzfeaturez.com/why-is-mukkabaaz-such-a-brilliant-bollywood-movie/
http://newzfeaturez.com/why-is-mukkabaaz-such-a-brilliant-bollywood-movie/#respondSun, 21 Jan 2018 12:00:46 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7658“A knockout punch” is what one experiences while watching the Bollywood movie Mukkabaaz directed by Anurag Kashyap. Comprising of some outstanding performances from the entire star cast, some brilliant music, and excellent writing backed up by brilliant execution by the director, this movie tells a tale of love, sports politics in India, and casteism in […]

]]>“A knockout punch” is what one experiences while watching the Bollywood movie Mukkabaaz directed by Anurag Kashyap. Comprising of some outstanding performances from the entire star cast, some brilliant music, and excellent writing backed up by brilliant execution by the director, this movie tells a tale of love, sports politics in India, and casteism in an extremely “gripping and entertaining” manner. So, having watched this wonderful Bollywood movie in a theater, here is presenting an analysis explaining “why” this film is such a great watch.

1. The “Brilliant” story, dialogues, and screenplay of Mukkabaaz:

Jimmy Shergill as the main antagonist Bhagwan Das Mishra in a scene from Mukkabaaz (Source: IMDb)

“Engrossing, real, and powerful” would be the best way to describe the story of this Bollywood movie which has been written by Vineet Kumar Singh, Anurag Kashyap, Mukti Singh Srinet, KD Satyam, Ranjan Chandel, and Prasoon Mishra. Furthermore, the story revolves around a boxer named Shravan Singh (Vineet Kumar Singh) coached by Sanjay Kumar (Ravi Kishan) and belonging to a town called Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, who falls in love with a mute girl named Sunaina (Zoya Hussain). Adding complexity to the love story is that while Shravan belongs to a “lower caste”, Sunaina is from a “upper cast” and is the niece of a tyrant mafia don named Baghwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Shergill) who controls the local gymnasium. The rest of the plot basically deals with the fascinating “professional and personal” tussle between Shravan and Bhaghwan Das.

The screenplay of this movie written by Kashyap is extremely “flowing” and is spiced up by the use of “Beef politics”, “Casteism” and “Sports politics in India” . While the dialogues written are real, and for once the use of abusive language in a Kashyap film has been avoided, which is extremely refreshing.

2. The “Excellent” editing and cinematography of Mukkabaaz:

Ravi Kishan as Sanjay Kumar in a scene from Mukkabaaz (Source: The Indian Express)

Overall, the editing by Aarti Bajaj and Ankit Bidyadhar is “neat” however, it must be said that this Bollywood movie could trimmed by about 15 minutes at least so as to make the narrative much more streamlined and interesting. The cinematography by Jayesh Nair, Shanker Raman, Rajeev Ravi, and Jay Patel, is “terrific”, and captures the “rustic” and “tribal” atmosphere surrounding small town north India in an extremely realistic manner. In addition, the boxing sequences have been shot extremely well, and perfectly capture the essence of boxers slugging it out in the ring.

3. The “mind-blowing” music of Mukkabaaz:

DJ Nucleya, the music director of the popular song “Paintra” in Mukkabaaz (Source: Hindustan Times)

“Magnificent” is the ideal adjective that can be used to describe the manner in which music of this Bollywood movie composed by Rachita Arora and DJ Nucleya have been used. The songs “Paintra”, “Mushkil Hai Apna Meil Priye”, and “Bhaut Hua Sanman” are brilliant musical compositions but, more importantly have been used as a “storytelling tool” that actually takes the narrative forward rather than just a “showpiece”. Furthermore, the wonderful music is backed up by an “superb” background score by Prashant Pillai that captures the “intense” drama in the narrative quite beautifully.

4. The “Powerful” performances and the “Visionary” direction of Mukkabaaz:

“Real and raw performances” are what the entire star cast of this brilliant Bollywood movie has delivered. As Sanjay Kumar the coach of Shravan, Ravi Kishan (the Bhojpuri megastar) is great and delivers a very restrained yet real performance. Jimmy Shergill as Bhagwan Das Mishra the main antagonist is brilliant, and brings out the “evil” that resides within the “casteist” Indian society with great panache. However, the movie belongs to the lead protagonists played by Vineet Kumar Singh and debutante Zoya Hussain who are truly brilliant. As a lower caste boxer Shravan, Kumar brings to life the angst against the system that sadly resides in upcoming sportsmen and women in India. On the other hand, debutante Hussain as Sunaina a mute girl with a mind of her own and the better half of the boxer is excellent and confidently portrays her emotions through equal use of body and sign language. However, it is antagonist Bhagwan Das Mishra played by Jimmy Shergill (known for portraying softer characters) who through this “knock out performance” shocks and literally gives the face of “evil” a completely new makeover.

Above all though, it is the visionary direction provided by Anurag Kashyap that makes Mukkabaaz such an entertaining and engaging movie. So be it the use of real locations, great camerawork, or use of brilliant music and background score, the director brilliantly manages to fuse these key movie making elements together to produce an excellent film that not only “educates” but “entertains” as well. More importantly, Kashyap (who is also one the writers of this film) quite courageously takes a typical “Bollywood Movie Template” i.e. a love story filled with obstacles, and produces a thrilling movie combining “facts and fiction” rather than “fantasy and fiction”, which a majority of the directors in Bollywood unfortunately tend to do.

And so, having thoroughly enjoyed watching this Bollywood movie directed by the mercurial Anurag Kashyap, here is hoping that the films he directs in the future continues to “pack a punch” in terms of critical acclaim as well as success at the box office.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/why-is-mukkabaaz-such-a-brilliant-bollywood-movie/feed/0What is the role of a “Whistleblower” in Human Society?http://newzfeaturez.com/what-is-the-role-of-a-whistleblower-in-human-society/
http://newzfeaturez.com/what-is-the-role-of-a-whistleblower-in-human-society/#respondSun, 14 Jan 2018 10:06:52 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7636“An individual who exposes an illegal or unethical act said to have occurred within a private or public organization” is the definition of the term whistleblower. Now, around the world over the years we have seen a number of whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden and New York cop Frank Serpico (a movie and a novel […]

]]>“An individual who exposes an illegal or unethical act said to have occurred within a private or public organization” is the definition of the term whistleblower. Now, around the world over the years we have seen a number of whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden and New York cop Frank Serpico (a movie and a novel have been based on his life) who through their sheer courage have exposed “corrupt practices” in public life. The question then to be asked is, what exactly is the role and importance of a “whistleblowing” individual in human society? And so, here is presenting the answer.

The “whistleblower” Edward Snowden, a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency who leaked classified documents belonging to the National Security Agency (NSA) (Source: Wired)

1. The role of “Whistleblower” in human society?

The New York cop Frank Serpico, who served as a “whistleblower” against rampant corruption in the Police department (Source: The Free Information Society)

Apparently, the term “whistleblower” is said to have been first coined during the 19th century, so as to find a replacement for the word “informer” which was commonly used, because it was found to have a negative connotation attached to it. Apparently, this term is said to have been derived from the word “whistle”, and was created so as to serve as a warning to the public with regards to any unlawful activity that may have taken place in any organization. Now, there are two types of whistleblowers that exist in human society. They are as follows:

a. Internal Whistleblower:

“An individual who reports a corrupt act that occurs within an organization (private or public) to someone from the inside” is the definition of an Internal Whistleblower. The major reason behind using such tactics by an individual is mainly “unacceptable behavior” that occurs within an organization.

b. External Whistleblower:

“An individual who reports a corrupt act that occurs within a private or public organization to outside entities” is the best way to define an External Whistleblower. In case of this type of whistleblower, the outside agencies to whom an individual can report to may include lawyers, media, and law enforcement forces. Furthermore, this type of whistleblowing may also involve offering the individual concerned with monetary benefits mainly due to the sensitivity of the information that is shared in public.

c. The “Third Party”:

“The use of an outside agency by the whistleblower (without his/her name being revealed) to inform the top level management of an organization about corrupt practices” is basically what “Third Party” whistleblowing is all about. This type of strategy has been developed only recently due to the backlash experienced against the “whistleblowers”. Furthermore, a few organizations such as the “International Whistleblowers” provide for the Third Party services. In recent times, it has been found that a number of organizations have increasingly made use of this type of “whistleblowing” strategy.

2. The importance of a”Whistleblower” in human society?

Jeffrey Wigand, an American biochemist who served as a “whistleblower” against corrupt practices used by the Brown and Williamson tobacco company (Source: Bio.com)

“I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded” explained whistleblower Edward Snowden as to what drove him to leak classified NSA (National Security Agency) documents in 2013. And so, as can be observed from Snowden’s quote it is obvious that there are certain facts hidden especially within government organizations concerning citizens that must be exposed, and hence whistleblowers are needed. The fact that ex-American President Barack Obama acknowledged the crucial role that Snowden played in starting the surveillance debate in country, is clear indication that such “whistleblowers” are needed to ensure that human society is adequately informed (or made aware), and do not remain in the dark forever with regards to certain key information. In terms of private organizations, serious issues such as “sexual harassment” (a prime example of power abuse) can only be dealt with if there are individuals courageous enough to approach the concerned authorities and “blow the whistle” on the perpetrators of such heinous acts .

Now, what the Snowden leaks in 2013 has proven is that there exist important information within a society that are intentionally hidden from the public, which require to be exposed . It is therefore to uncover the truth that lies behind hidden sensitive and critical information (especially those related to public life) that “whistleblowers” must be encouraged to come forward rather than be “witch- hunted” out of human society.

]]>http://newzfeaturez.com/what-is-the-role-of-a-whistleblower-in-human-society/feed/0Mukkabaaz- A Love saga set in the world of “Boxing”http://newzfeaturez.com/mukkabaaz-a-love-saga-based-world-boxing/
http://newzfeaturez.com/mukkabaaz-a-love-saga-based-world-boxing/#respondTue, 09 Jan 2018 07:31:24 +0000http://newzfeaturez.com/?p=7641“Bahut Hua Sanman” is the tagline of Anurag Kashyap’s next directorial venture titled “Mukkabaaz”, which has been produced jointly by Phantom Films and Anand L Rai. Having been screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival as well as at the Mumbai Academy of Movie Image (MAMI) Film Festival, and garnered accolades, this “Bollywood” movie […]

]]>“Bahut Hua Sanman” is the tagline of Anurag Kashyap’s next directorial venture titled “Mukkabaaz”, which has been produced jointly by Phantom Films and Anand L Rai. Having been screened at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival as well as at the Mumbai Academy of Movie Image (MAMI) Film Festival, and garnered accolades, this “Bollywood” movie is all set to be officially released throughout India on Friday 12th January 2018. Furthermore, since the mercurial Anurag is returning after more than year (his last release was Raman Raghav 2.0 in 2016) this movie is certainly one of the most “anticipated” releases in Bollywood this year.

Vineet Kumar Singh and Zoya Hussain in a scene from the to be released “Mukkabaaz” directed by Anurag Kashyap (Source: Desimartini.com)

The plot/story of this movie is based in small town North India, and revolves around a boxer named Shravan Kumar (Vineet Kumar Singh). Now, Kumar intends to make it big in boxing and trains in a gymnasium owned by local mafia don Bhagwan Das Mishra (Jimmy Shergill). In addition, he also manages to fall in love with Mishra’s deaf niece Sunaina (Zoya Hussain). To complicate matters, Mishra belongs to the higher caste while Kumar is from a low caste. And so, the clash between the don and the “Mukkabaaz” (the brawler) over professional and personal issues is what forms the core of this film. Adding spice to the narrative of this movie aptly titled “Mukkabaaz” is the use of “politics in sports”seen in India (which includes issues such as casteism and cow slaughtering) as the background. The music is composed by Nucleya and Rachita Arora while, the background score has been given by Prashant Pillai. The song “Paintra” composed by Nucleya has really caught on well (especially in the social media world) with the youtube video of this composition garnering over “2 million views”.

Jimmy Shergill in a scene from Mukkabaaz (Source: FullMovie365)

With the release date of this movie fast approaching, here is hoping that like all other Anurag Kashyap movies this film too “packs a punch”.